Hannah Pierce, BSN
June 26, 2025
Indiana’s nursing programs offer clear, structured pathways, from Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificates through advanced Nurse Practitioner (NP) degrees, tailored to the state’s varied healthcare systems. Whether you’re earning your CNA credential, advancing from Registered Nurse (RN) to a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), completing Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) training, or pursuing an NP track, Indiana’s colleges and healthcare organizations provide classroom, online, and hybrid learning coupled with clinical rotations at Indianapolis hospitals and regional clinics. Graduates gain hands‑on experience, evidence‑based competencies, and leadership skills, ready to meet both metropolitan and community health needs across the Hoosier State.
Saint Mary of the Woods, IN - Private 4-year - smwc.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program designed to prepare students for a rewarding career in healthcare. This on-campus program emphasizes holistic health, patient safety, and compassionate care, rooted in liberal arts and science. Students gain hands-on experience in state-of-the-art labs and through clinical partnerships. The program requires a TEAS score of 58% for admission, with a focus on communication, leadership, and professionalism. Graduates are ready for roles in various healthcare settings or further education. Financial aid is available, and the curriculum meets licensure requirements in all 50 states.
Online Learning - Visit Website
Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College offers an online Paramedic to BSN program designed for paramedics aiming to advance their careers to registered nurses. This flexible program allows students to continue working while completing their degree, with a curriculum that includes 125 credit hours and 60 clinical hours. The program is tailored for Indiana residents, featuring online coursework with minimal campus visits. Admission requires a paramedic license, a 2.5 GPA, and a proficient score on the ATI TEAS exam. Graduates are prepared for diverse nursing roles, with the average registered nurse salary reported at $81,220.
Hammond, IN - Public 4-Year - pnw.edu
Concentration: Professional Nursing - Campus Based - Visit Website
Purdue University Northwest's Bachelor's Degree in Nursing with a concentration in Professional Nursing prepares students for a rewarding career in healthcare. This program combines general education with specialized nursing courses, focusing on comprehensive, safe care across various settings. Accredited by the ACEN, it's designed for those aiming to become nurse generalists with baccalaureate-level competencies. The curriculum covers essentials from introduction to professional nursing to a capstone project, ensuring a well-rounded education. With opportunities for involvement in honor societies and clubs, students gain both knowledge and practical experience. Affordable and respected, this program is a stepping stone to advanced nursing degrees and diverse career paths.
Concentration: Accelerated Bachelor’s Second Degree - Campus Based - Visit Website
Purdue University Northwest offers an Accelerated Bachelor’s Second Degree in Nursing for non-nurses with a prior baccalaureate degree. This intensive, four-semester program prepares students for a BSN in a shortened timeframe, starting clinical practicum in the first semester. With a focus on affordability and excellence, the program is recognized nationally and prepares graduates for high-demand nursing roles. Admission requires a 3.0 GPA from a prior degree and a 'C' or better in prerequisite courses. The curriculum covers core nursing essentials and specialty areas, culminating in final clinical rotations.
Indianapolis, IN - Public 4-Year - indianapolis.iu.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
The Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program at Indiana University-Indianapolis prepares students for a rewarding career in nursing. With options like the Traditional Track for those without a bachelor's degree and the Second Degree Accelerated Track for degree holders, the program caters to diverse student needs. It emphasizes hands-on learning, with coursework starting in August or January. Financial aid and scholarships are available to help manage costs. Admission requires meeting academic criteria, with rolling reviews for the RN to BSN option. This program is designed to meet Indiana's licensure requirements, preparing graduates for the nursing profession with a solid foundation in healthcare.
Concentration: Second Degree Accelerated - Campus Based - Visit Website
The Second Degree Accelerated BSN Track at Indiana University-Indianapolis is designed for individuals with a bachelor's degree in another field seeking a fast-paced path to a nursing career. This pre-licensure program combines rigorous coursework with hands-on clinical experiences, preparing students for the NCLEX-RN exam. Admission requires a prior bachelor's degree and completion of prerequisite courses. The program offers flexible start dates with fall, spring, and summer admission cycles. Financial aid and scholarships are available to eligible students. This track is ideal for career changers looking to enter the nursing profession quickly.
Concentration: RN to BSN - Online Learning - Visit Website
Indiana University-Indianapolis offers an online RN to BSN program designed for registered nurses aiming to advance their careers. This flexible, distance-accessible program prepares nurses to meet evolving healthcare needs. It's perfect for working professionals seeking to balance education with personal commitments. The curriculum focuses on enhancing clinical skills and leadership in nursing. Admission requires an RN license, making it ideal for those already in the field. While costs vary, financial aid options are available to eligible students. The program supports nurses in achieving higher education without pausing their careers, offering a pathway to broader opportunities in healthcare.
Muncie, IN - Public 4-Year - bsu.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Ball State University's Nursing Major prepares students for a successful career in various healthcare settings. With a curriculum blending rigorous coursework and hands-on clinical experience, students gain skills in state-of-the-art labs and real-world environments. The program boasts a high NCLEX-RN pass rate, ensuring graduates are well-prepared for licensure. Specializations include pediatric, psychiatric, and community health nursing, offering diverse career paths. Admission requires meeting Ball State's selective criteria, with financial aid and scholarships available to eligible students. This program is ideal for those aiming to become registered nurses or pursue advanced nursing degrees.
Concentration: LPN Transition - Campus Based - Visit Website
Ball State University's LPN to BS program in Indiana is tailored for Licensed Practical Nurses aiming to advance their careers to Registered Nurses. This program offers a seamless transition, leveraging your LPN experience towards a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. With a focus on the LPN Transition concentration, students benefit from a curriculum that blends theoretical knowledge with practical clinical experience. The program prepares graduates for the NCLEX-RN exam, boasting high pass rates. Admission requires an LPN license, with flexible study plans to accommodate working professionals. Costs and financial aid options are available, making this an accessible pathway to elevate your nursing career.
Online Learning - Visit Website
Ball State University's online RN to BS program offers a flexible, accredited pathway for registered nurses to advance their careers. With 100% online coursework, students can balance studies with professional commitments. The program emphasizes leadership, community health, and evidence-based practice, preparing graduates for higher-level nursing roles. Affordable tuition and transfer-friendly policies make it accessible for many. Clinical hours can be completed locally, adding convenience. Accredited by CCNE, this program is recognized for quality and rigor, aligning with the nursing profession's push for more BSN-prepared nurses.
West Lafayette, IN - Public 4-Year - purdue.edu
Campus Based - Visit Website
Purdue University's Bachelor of Science in Nursing program is a direct-admit, four-year course designed to prepare students for a rewarding career as registered nurses. With a focus on real-world experience, students engage in clinical settings and use state-of-the-art simulators in the Nursing Center for Education and Simulation. The program boasts a 96% NCLEX pass rate and a 98.3% successful career outcome, with graduates earning an average starting salary of $64,851. Admission is competitive, with early application by November 1 recommended for high school seniors.
Indiana’s LPN programs blend focused classroom study in anatomy, pharmacology, and nursing fundamentals with supervised clinical rotations in hospitals, long‑term care facilities, and community clinics. Students gain hands‑on experience administering medications, monitoring vital signs, and supporting patient recovery under professional guidance. After passing the NCLEX‑PN exam and obtaining Indiana licensure, graduates step into practical nursing roles that alleviate RN and physician workloads. By strengthening the practical nursing workforce across both urban centers and rural areas, these programs help ensure consistent access to quality care throughout the state.
Indiana’s CNA programs generally run six to twelve weeks, pairing classroom training on infection prevention and patient safety with supervised practicums. Learners gain hands‑on experience in feeding, mobility support, and personal hygiene care, all while developing accurate vital‑sign monitoring skills. Upon certification, graduates integrate into care teams across hospitals, residential facilities, and home‑health services. Their contributions ensure consistent, compassionate support for licensed nursing staff statewide.
Indiana’s RN to BSN pathways integrate rigorous online coursework in nursing leadership, population health, informatics and healthcare policy with immersive clinical placements at regional hospitals and community health centers. Available in part‑time and accelerated formats, these bridge programs let RNs continue working while they complete their bachelor’s degree. Earning a BSN deepens expertise in evidence‑based practice and care coordination, aligns with employer expectations for degree‑prepared nurses, and unlocks opportunities in specialty certification, management and advanced practice throughout Indiana’s healthcare system.
Indiana’s Nurse Practitioner programs take nurses beyond a BSN by delivering a blend of advanced theoretical instruction and substantial hands-on clinical rotations, typically completed in two to four years, across concentrations like family practice, pediatrics, and mental-behavioral health. Offered through flexible online, hybrid, and traditional on-campus formats at universities and health systems statewide, these MSN and DNP pathways ready graduates for APRN certification and Indiana licensure. Once credentialed, NPs serve as primary care providers, chronic disease specialists, and telehealth clinicians in urban centers like Indianapolis and Fort Wayne, as well as in rural health clinics and critical-access hospitals. By filling gaps in primary and specialty care and enhancing patient outcomes, these programs are vital to reinforcing Indiana’s healthcare fabric.
Degree | Typical Length | Prerequisites | Outcome / Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Associate’s Degree in Nursing (ADN) | ~2 years | High school diploma or GED | Very common entry route (especially via Ivy Tech), BSN completion often encouraged |
RN Diploma | 2-3 years | High school diploma or GED | Not offered in Indiana |
Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) | 4 years (12-18 months accelerated) | High school diploma or ADN transfer | Preferred by urban employers, ADN still common in rural areas |
Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) | 2 years (post-BSN) | BSN + RN license | Prepares for advanced roles, NPs require physician collaboration |
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) | 3-6 years (post-BSN or post-MSN) | BSN or MSN + RN license | Highest degree, NPs remain under reduced practice authority laws |
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Concentration: Accelerated Bachelor’s Second Degree - Campus Based - Website
Concentration: Professional Nursing - Campus Based - Website
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Concentration: Second Degree Accelerated - Campus Based - Website
Concentration: RN to BSN - Online Learning - Website
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Concentration: ABSN In-Person Track - Campus Based - Website
Concentration: Traditional BSN - Campus Based - Website
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Concentration: LPN Transition - Campus Based - Website
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